SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University volleyball team made its 2021 home debut in a five-set Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division loss to Pitt-Johnstown Tuesday night at Morrow Field House.
 
Slippery Rock (3-10, 0-1 PSAC West) took the opening set from the Mountain Cats (8-1, 1-0 PSAC West) in a 25-17 decision before UPJ evened the match with a 25-13 victory in the second set. SRU answered back with a 25-20 victory in the third set, however UPJ went on to take sweep the rest of the match via 25-21 and 15-6 wins in the fourth and fifth sets en route to the narrow triumph.
 
Tuesday's match was already The Rock's fifth five-set contest of the season.
 
Abigail Koeller came off the bench to register a team-high 11 kills in addition to a pair of blocks. Chelsie Wheeler added nine kills with Erica Selfridge rounding out The Rock's attack leaders with two aces and eight kills on a.208 attack percentage.
 
Lauren Crytzer led SRU's middle hitter contingent with five kills on a .214 attack percentage, and four blocks. Mary Berger also had three blocks.
 
Setter Logan Whitaker not only passed out a match-best 34 digs while making 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, but also posted six kills and a career-high seven blocks.
 
Libero Kate Lachendro made a match-high 27 digs. Taylor Fellers matched Selfridge for the team-high in aces with two as well, marking her third match of the year with multiple aces.
 
The Rock and Mountain Cats played to a 5-5 tie in the first set before SRU rattled off a 10-4 run to pull ahead 15-9. Slippery Rock maintained a comfortable lead through the remainder of the opening set while tallying the game's final four points for a 25-17 win.
 
Following a 25-13 loss in the second set, The Rock was fantastic down the stretch of the third set as they scored seven of the set's final nine points on the way to a 25-20 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Koeller had two kills and a block assist during the run.
 
However, Slippery Rock's hopes of pulling off a win in its home-opener for a third consecutive season were dashed as Pitt-Johnstown proceeded to take the fourth and fifth sets to exit SRU with a win.
 
After winning the fourth set, 25-21, UPJ opened the fifth with a decisive 7-0 run that The Rock could never fully recover fun in the eventual 15-6 defeat.
 
For the match, UPJ held advantages over The Rock in kills (58-46), attack percentage (.166-.123) and aces (6-4) while SRU earned a 9-7 edge against the Mountain Cats in total blocks. Grace Miller and Lualis Alvarado combined to produce 33 kills for UPJ.
 
Slippery returns to the road Friday for a 7 p.m. PSAC West contest at Mercyhurst University.
 

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